lewis ginter botanical garden

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Glorious Glass in the GardenFräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

This exhibition was made possible through the generous support of:

Mrs. Jane B. Spilman, Exhibit Patron Bon Secours Richmond Health System Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Gottwald Mr. and Mrs. William H. King, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Mooney Mr. and Mrs. Neilson J. November Mr. and Mrs. John W. Snow

Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Hans Godo Fräbel was born in Jena, East Germany in 1941. He was the third child in a family with five children. The tumultuous political climate in existence after WWII necessitated a family migration to a small city called Wertheim in West Germany, where Fräbel’s father opened a scientific glass factory with a business partner. After moving a few times, the family ended up in Mainz am Rhein, a much larger city in West Germany, where Fräbel’s father obtained a position as a controller at the Jena Glaswerke. Fräbel did not enjoy school, and when he was 15, his father enrolled him into a “Lehrausbildung Program” (a traineeship) as a scientific glassblower at this prestigious company. Within 3 years, Fräbel received his “Gehilfenbrief,” an apprenticeship diploma, showing that he had mastered the trade of scientific glass blowing.

In his spare time, Fräbel had the opportunity to focus on his real passion, art, and attended different art classes, to learn how to paint and draw.

In 1965, Fräbel moved to the United States and settled in Atlanta. He obtained a position at the Georgia Institute of Technology in its scientific glass blowing laboratory and continued his art studies at Emory University and Georgia State University.

Hans Godo Fräbel and the Fräbel Studio

While working at Georgia Tech, Fräbel’s creative talents were often sought after by professors and acquaintances alike to create crystal glass sculptures as gifts for friends, partners and business associates. With so many people enjoying the beauty of his glass sculptures, Fräbel felt strengthened to continue his quest to become an artist.

In the 1960’s, glass was not accepted as an art medium yet and therefore, established art galleries decided not to represent glass artists. Because of this, very few artists decided to utilize the beauty and diversity that the techniques furnace glass and flame-worked glass offered to create unique pieces of art.

Until that time, glass designers had always been giving their designs to factory glass workers, who would then try to create their design in glass. Harvey Littleton and Hans Godo Fräbel were among the first artists who chose to create glass art with their own hands.

Fräbel established his own glass studio in Atlanta, Georgia in 1968. Over the next 40 years, he would follow in accordance with the European tradition of apprentice and mentoring studio master: as the master artist he would pass his skills on to a handpicked group of apprentices, who after many years of training would become master artists in their own right.

Although Fräbel’s art received much attention in the United States, his international breakthrough as a glass artist did not occur until 1979 when his pop art sculpture “Hammer and Nails” was utilized as the feature piece of the “New Glass Art Exhibition.” For the next several years, the exhibition toured the world visiting museums in numerous major cities. This international exhibition was a major factor in the recognition of Hans Godo Fräbel as a founding father of modern torch-work in the world of art.

Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.2 Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Over the years Fräbel’s reputation as a master in glass art has spread worldwide beyond the glass community. Fräbel art pieces can be found in public and private collections in over 80 countries worldwide. Some of the more illustrious collectors of Fräbel glass art are Queen Elizabeth ii, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan, current and former heads of governments such as Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Barack Obama, Margaret Thatcher, and Anwar Sadat, as well as museums in London, Paris, Tokyo, Dresden, Valencia, Corning, San Francisco, New York and Washington, D.C.

Hans Godo Fräbel, 2008

Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. 3

Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.4

Some of the most famous Fräbels of all time are the “Hammer and Nails” sculpture from the “New Glass Art Exhibition” which is still traveling to museums around the world; and the playful, cavorting clowns which received worldwide recognition with the Absolut Vodka advertising campaign in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Hans Godo Fräbel was the first glass artist honored with the title of Absolut Artist. Other famous artists that were chosen as Absolut Artists are Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

Until the mid 90’s, the Fräbel Studio created art pieces almost exclusively in clear borosilicate, a strong, brilliant crystal that is resistant to scratches and which if broken can usually be restored without a trace of damage. In the mid 1990’s the artists of the Fräbel Studio began exploring the use of color. Since that time, color has formed an increasingly important part of the Fräbel repertoire. Other techniques the Studio employs are sandblasting and painting. Sandblasting gives the sculpture a frosted, highlighted appearance, which is an interesting optical illusion. This optical illusion is produced by the human eye, which cannot handle the diffractions of the fine indentations in the glass. The indentations or facets on the surface of the glass reflect all colors of light from its surface and confuse the human eye, giving an impression of a whitish tint.

Sculptures created by Hans Godo Fräbel are signed with “GF,” which stands for Godo Fräbel. These sculptures are one-of-a-kind exclusives or limited editions. Although an original study model has been created, it will never leave the Fräbel Studio. The mounting peg bears the year of its creation.

Liberty Tree, 2008

Permanent Collection of

National Liberty Museum

Philadelphia, PA

5Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Hans Godo Fräbel’s art has found a perfect pairing with the fascinating flora and fauna at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, a nationally recognized “living museum” of horticulture, education and beauty located in Richmond, Virginia. Fräbel, the world’s most famous flamework glass artist and an avid gardener, is continuously inspired by nature and the world around him. This book documents highlights of “Glorious Glass in the Garden,” the exhibition that he and his team of glass artists created exclusively for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

Fräbel’s installation at Lewis Ginter brings a new, reflective view of his art amid gorgeous gardens, a classical Conservatory and other inviting public areas. Designed to dazzle visitors with elements from an amazing fantasy world, the exhibition is filled with whimsical and otherworldly figures, mysterious masks, playful sculptures and breathtaking botanical interplay.

All Fräbel’s exhibitions, like the one at Lewis Ginter, are unique to their surrounding environments. For “Glorious Glass in the Garden,” Fräbel utilized the Garden’s unique vegetation and diverse landscape settings to optimally stage his amazing glass sculptures and large-scale installations.

“Nature in its splendor certainly inspires, and nature interpreted through Fräbel’s art provides us another meaningful experience of beauty,” said Frank Robinson, executive director at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. “I think our Garden’s nineteenth-century namesake, Lewis Ginter, and his beloved niece, Grace Arents, the Garden’s benefactor, would be pleased by this marriage of art and nature. When you visit, look very carefully

– on a limb, across the water, in the reflection of a glass lily – you just might see ‘Miss Grace’ smiling because you are here, sharing her dream.”

Glorious Glass in the Garden

Inspired by the Garden’s history, architecture and landscapes, Fräbel debuts several sculptures made especially for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. New at this exhibition is the

“High Wheeling Longfellows” installation, which consists of a Longfellow riding a High Wheel bicycle and three other Longfellows standing nearby as if waiting their turn to enjoy a ride. Fräbel created this sculpture after hearing about the property’s original use in the late 1800’s as the site of the Lakeside Wheel Club for Richmond’s bicycling enthusiasts.

“Glorious Glass in the Garden” also debuts a series of new fantasy flowers, all completely imaginary and spun by the unique mind of Hans Godo Fräbel. All show some element of real flowers, but the colors, and sometimes the lack of color, clearly demonstrate that these are fantasies of imagination. The transparency and reflective quality of clear glass in these artworks contrasts and accentuates the beauty of the more intense color of flowers and foliage.

Since the opening of the Fräbel Studio in 1968, flowers and plants have formed an important element of the Studio’s realistic art repertoire. Flowers of the lily, dogwood, rose and various orchids have been created in realistic fashion using borosilicate glass. Wielding his creative expression, Fräbel designs glass botanicals, interpreting the essence of plant life while displaying the magic and irresistible beauty of glass.

After his initial visit, Fräbel stated, “Lewis Ginter is just a gorgeous botanical garden and I am proud and honored to showcase my work in this beautiful setting.”


Blue Fantasy Flower, 2010


Unparalleled beauty, superb horticultural collections, exceptional educational resources and a legacy of stewardship

— this is the essence of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. For more than 25 years, visitors have enjoyed the 80 acres of themed gardens, diverse landscapes and naturalized areas, while also partaking of endless opportunities for family-friendly exploration and entertainment at its finest. Located in Richmond, Virginia, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is the most comprehensive public garden on the East Coast between Philadelphia and Atlanta, with its gardens containing more than 7,500 unique plant varieties. As a “living classroom,” the Garden offers educational opportunities for all ages and interests, including children’s and school programs, adult classes from practical gardening to botanical illustration, professional landscape certification, and resources for scientific research. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is indeed a “common ground”— a place for all to enjoy the pursuits of learning, pleasure and retreat. No wonder the Garden has grown phenomenally during the last decade, with annual visitation now exceeding 300,000 and memberships representing more than 13,000 households.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden


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History Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s master plan was inspired by the nineteenth-century life and character of Grace Arents. A Victorian woman of great curiosity, energy and compassion, “Miss Grace” traveled with her uncle, Lewis Ginter, who shared her interest in horticulture. During their world travels they visited the great gardens of Europe and Asia, always returning with inspiration and specimens to plant at Bloemendaal Farm, which today is home to the Botanical Garden.

In 1984, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden was established through the generous bequest of “Miss Grace,” who penned in her will, “I, Grace E. Arents of Bloemendaal Farm … do give, devise and bequeath my farm in Henrico County, known as Bloemendaal Farm … to the City of Richmond … as a botanical garden … in perpetual memory of my Uncle Lewis Ginter to be known as the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden...”

This bequest, along with a $100,000 endowment, provided the foundation for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, which opened to the public in 1987.

The story of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is significant because it is much more than the chronicle of one institution — it is the legacy of Grace Arents and Lewis Ginter and the rich history of Richmond, Virginia, itself. Their philanthropy, vision and commitment to the community continue to impact the region’s vitality and quality of life in many dimensions to this day.

The Garden and Amenities A visit to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is a delightful journey through inviting themed gardens, picturesque waterways teeming with wildlife, a Virginia Historic Landmark and impressive visitor amenities, including:

Central Garden: North Terrace, Four Seasons Garden, •Healing Garden, Sunken Garden

Education and Library Complex: Joan Massey •Conference Center, Charles F. Gillette Education Center, Lora M. Robins Library, Evelyn G. Luck Garden

Gottwald Family Conservatory •

Louise B. Cochrane Rose Garden•

Henry M. Flagler Perennial Garden •

Asian Valley, Lora and Claiborne Robins Tea House•

Martha and Reed West Island Garden•

Grace Arents Garden, Bloemendaal House•

Children’s Garden•

Sydnor Lake, Lotus Bridge•

Margaret Johanna Streb Conifer Garden, Lucy Payne •Minor Memorial Garden, Vienna Cobb Anderson Wildflower Meadow, Anne Holt Massey Greenhouses

E. Claiborne Robins Visitors Center, Garden Café, •Garden Shop



Future Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden reflects the passions and interests of so many who have contributed to its development, perhaps surpassing the dreams of even its most ardent supporters. Like the Garden’s past, its future rests on the community’s continued sharing of vision, time, talent and financial contributions.

“Whether you’ve visited Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden once or countless times since our earliest days, we encourage you and your family to share our journey through the next 25 years,” Executive Director Frank Robinson said, “Who knows what lies ahead, but we have built a strong foundation, and if history can provide a window into the future, what’s in store should be exciting, indeed!”

Mission The mission statement affirms that “Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden enlightens and inspires its constituents through its outstanding botanical collections, horticultural displays and landscape design. We engage our constituents with the natural world through interpretation, programs, educational resources and outreach. We advocate for sustainability and stewardship of our planet.”


Cavorting Clown Fountain

Hans Godo Fräbel, renowned for his playful figures in glass, created this large fountain in 2006. Based on his illustrious Cavorting Clown theme, the fountain stands over 10 feet tall and 7 feet in diameter. The Cavorting Clown series brought international recognition to Fräbel when he was chosen as an Absolut Vodka Artist in 1987, the very first glass artist to be bestowed with this title. Other famous Absolut Vodka Artists are Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

Right:Cavorting Clown Fountain, 2006


Photo by D

on William

son

Glorious Glass in the Garden. Fräbel at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. 19

Photo by D

on William

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Longfellow Fountain

The Longfellow Fountain is an intriguing interaction of stark, clear glass cylinders and the playful fluid Longfellow sculptures. Conceived as a water sculpture, five of the twelve glass tubes are actually water fountains while the other seven support spirited Longfellows. The interplay of water, light, and glass creates a striking visual experience.

Right:Longfellow Fountain, 2006


Tower

In the late 1970’s, Hans Godo Fräbel created a small series of abstract sculptures of spheres connected to rods to produce unique clear sculptures that beautifully play with light. This sculpture titled “Tower” is a large version of Fräbel’s 1979 “Tower of Babel”.

Right:Tower, 2009


Balancing

A lighthearted and playful portrayal of Hans Godo Fräbel’s famous clowns. The message here is to enjoy life as if it is one big carnival. This installation consists of 12 clowns on large, brightly colored spheres that freely float on the water. The clowns and spheres reflect delightfully as the water gently moves them.

Right:Balancing, 2008


lewis ginter botanical garden

Documents

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glass studio

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snowglorious glass

scientific glass factory

trade of scientific

crystal glass sculptures

factory glass workers